Kopanong ‘cop killer’ caught

Bloemfontein - A second man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the death of a policeman in Kopanong near Bloemfontein, Free State police said.

Captain Harry Nagel said the man was arrested on Dewetsdorp Road.

He was among four gunmen who allegedly shot dead Sergeant Molahlehi Ephraim Mokhasi, 41, during a robbery in Kopanong on Tuesday.

Four gunmen robbed a store shortly before 2pm. When they tried to flee the police arrived and they ran back into the shop. They re-emerged guns blazing, hitting the sergeant. He died on the scene.

The robbers ran away with cash, a laptop, and a police service pistol.

Two kilometres from the scene other officers and the Bloemfontein dog unit confronted them. During the ensuing shootout a female constable from the dog unit was hit in the leg and hand. A third bullet struck her bullet proof vest. Another police officer was shot in the hand.

One of the gunmen was killed, and a second arrested.

Cases of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery were opened.

The two, aged 28 and 19, were expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday, facing charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder and armed robbery. - Sapa